POWERED ACTUATOR
An actuator includes an inner member that defines an inner space within which a motor is supported. An outer member is supported for rotation about the inner member. A drive slot in the inner member is shaped to cause rotational movement responsive to axial movement of a motor without relative axial movement of the outer member relative to the inner member. A drive pin moved by the motor moves within the drive slot and is engaged to a drive channel of the outer member to facilitate rotation of the outer member about the axis.
The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/171,256 filed on Apr. 21, 2009 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/239,465 filed on Sep. 3, 2009, and is a continuation in part of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/691,647 filed on Mar. 27, 2007, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/786,231 filed on Mar. 27, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/831,900 filed on Jul. 19, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis disclosure generally relates to an actuator for moving a panel, door or other member between desired positions. More particularly, this disclosure relates to an easily installable device for moving a panel, door or other member that converts linear movement into rotational movement.
Many applications exist where it is desirable to move a panel, door or other member between relative rotary positions about a fixed axis. Doors, gates and other movable members are often mounted to rotate about a fixed axis. The fixed axis being disposed at one side of the door, gate or panel. Typically, movements of these members are facilitated by hinges and moved by an external motor that drives linkage to move the door, panel or member between desired positions. Such actuators and linkages are complicated, and often susceptible to damage either purposeful or through simple exposure to the elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn example actuator includes an inner member that defines an inner space within which a motor is supported. An outer member is supported for rotation about the inner member. A drive slot in the inner member is shaped to cause rotational movement responsive to linear movement without any residual relative axial movement between inner and outer members. A drive pin moved by the motor moves within the drive slot and is engaged to a drive channel of the outer member to facilitate rotation of the outer member about the axis.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The example drive pin 24 includes a center section 23 and two distal bearing sections 25. The bearing sections 25 engage the drive channels 54 within the outer member 14. The center section 23 is connected to the motor shaft 20.
Referring to
Referring to
The inner tube 228 is clamped to a lower bracket 224 such that it is fixed relative to a fixed structure 226. A bottom of the inner tube 228 is clamped with a clamp 232. Therefore, the inner tube 228 is stationary and does not rotate, and the outer tube 230 and any structure or closure attached to the outer tube 230 will rotate relative to the inner tube 228. A lower bearing 235 is provided in the radial space between the inner tube 228 and the outer tube 230. The bearing 235 maintains a desired relative spacing between the inner and outer tubes 228, 230 during operation. The example bearing 235 is fabricated from a plastic material that reduces any frictional interference between relative the outer tube 230 and the inner tube 228. Fasteners 234 are shown attached to the outer tube 230 to facilitate mounting of a closure structure (not shown).
Referring to
The example powered actuator 200 includes a rotating mechanism 254. The rotating mechanism includes a motor disposed within an inner space defined by the inner tube 228. The inner tube 228 includes two helical drive slots 256 spaced approximately 180° apart relative to the axis 15 of the inner tube 228 (only one drive slot 256 is partially shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In operation, when it is desired to open the doors 316A, 316B, the powered actuator 200 is supplied power to engage the motor (Best shown in
Movement of the drive bearing 260 within the drive slot 256 vertically causes a corresponding rotation of the drive bearing 260. Because ends of the drive bearing 260 are engaged to the slot 258 within the outer tube 230, this rotation is transferred to the outer tube 230. The rotation of the outer tube 230 facilitates opening of the doors 316A, 316B. Moreover, the extent that the drive slots 256 twist about the inner tube 228 provides the allowed range of rotation. The outer tube 230 could be rotated a lesser amount about the inner tube 228. Closing of the doors 316A, 316B is accomplished by reversing movement of the drive bearing within the drive slot 256.
Referring to
Referring to
Accordingly, the disclosed and describe powered actuators provide for mounting and powered movement of closure panels, doors, gates and any other structure that is desired to be moved between various positions. The actuators include features that provide for tailoring the range of movement to accomplish application specific requirements. Furthermore, the disclosed actuators translate linear movement along an axis into pure rotational movement without any residual or accompanying relative axial movement.
Although an example has been explained and disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope and contemplation of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
Claims
1. A powered actuator assembly comprising:
- an inner member defining an open inner space and including a drive slot;
- an outer member rotatable about the inner member including a drive channel;
- a single ball bearing centered along an axis of rotation of the outer member, wherein the single ball bearing supports the outer member on the inner member;
- a motor disposed within the open inner space of the inner member; and
- a drive pin driven by the motor and extending through the drive slot into the drive channel for rotating the outer member relative to the inner member without any relative axial movement between the inner member and the outer member.
2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, including a support attached to one of the inner member and the outer member and a sleeve attached to the other of the inner member and the outer member with the single ball bearing disposed between the support and the sleeve.
3. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the drive slot comprises first and second drive slots on opposing sides of the inner member and the drive channel comprises first and second drive channels on opposing sides of the outer member with the drive pin extending through each of the first and second drive slots into the first and second drive channels.
4. The assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the drive slot comprises an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper drive slot facilitates rotation of the outer member in a first direction and the lower drive slot facilitates rotation of the outer member in a second direction opposite the first direction.
5. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the drive slot comprises a shape that causes rotation of the drive pin responsive to axial movement provided by the motor.
6. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the drive slot comprises cycloid shape.
7. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the motor comprise an electric motor that drives a shaft axially along the axis of rotation.
8. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the motor comprises a rotary electric motor that moves a threaded member axially responsive to rotation about the axis or rotation.
9. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the motor drives a gear train for rotating the outer member relative to the inner member.
10. An actuator for moving a closure member comprising:
- an inner member fixed relative to desired movement of the closure member;
- an inner member supported for movement about an axis of rotation on the inner member, wherein the closure is attached to the outer member;
- a single ball bearing centered along an axis of rotation of the outer member, wherein the single ball bearing supports the outer member on the inner member;
- a motor disposed within the open inner space of the inner member; and
- a drive pin driven by the motor and extending through the drive slot into the drive channel for rotating the outer member relative to the inner member.
11. The assembly as recited in claim 10, including a support attached to one of the inner member and the outer member and a sleeve attached to the other of the inner member and the outer member with the single ball bearing disposed between the support and the sleeve.
12. The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the drive slot comprises first and second drive slots on opposing sides of the inner member and the drive channel comprises first and second drive channels on opposing sides of the outer member with the drive pin extending through each of the first and second drive slots into the first and second drive channels.
13. The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the drive slot comprises a helical shape that provides for movement of the closure member about the axis approximately 270 degrees.
14. The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the drive slot comprises a helical shape that provides for movement of the closure member about the axis of rotation approximately 180 degrees.
15. The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the drive slot comprises cycloid shape.
16. The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the motor comprise an electric motor that drives a shaft axially along the axis of rotation.
17. The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the drive slot provides relative rotational movement between the inner member and the outer member without any relative axial movement between the inner member and the outer member.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 21, 2010
Publication Date: Oct 21, 2010
Patent Grant number: 8296998
Inventor: Edward J. Stull (Oxford, MI)
Application Number: 12/764,377
International Classification: E05F 15/04 (20060101); E05F 15/18 (20060101); F16H 21/12 (20060101);